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Usually the planning of an exhibition begins years before the invitation cards to the opening reception are put in the mail: it occurs as soon as the plans for the next two to three years are available. From this moment on up to the opening, members of the planning staff are involved in the organizing processes and in close contact with the responsible curators and this for several exhibitions at a time. It takes great flexibility: usually one exhibition is about to open, another is in its beginning stages, whilst others are waiting for replies for loan requests and catalogue production is at full speed. The planning department sees itself as interface between and information center for all other departments involved in the realization of temporary exhibits, which include the curatorial department, the sponsoring department, the press and communications office, the registrars office which organizes the transportation of works of art on loan from around the world, the conservators and the technicians as well as the staff of the museum shop.

Smaller gallery shows are not necessarily less work-intensive than the big exhibitions that take place in the Bührle-Saal. What is decisive is whether the exhibition is conceived and realized in-house, or whether it is in collaboration with another institution or a pre-existing exhibition. At times the different exhibition concepts require a lot of imagination and improvisation. The manifold contacts with partnering museums and the coordination of the requirements of all involved is a daily challenge  at times it creates a bit of a commotion, but it always makes for variety.